Work program

Our objectives

TRACIT’s principal objective is to help shape the regulatory response to illicit trade so as to reduce and ultimately eliminate illicit trade. The organization leverages the political momentum against the social and economic consequences of illicit trade to:

Mobilize the international business community to work collectively across industry sectors, build synergies and develop, promote and share mitigation tactics common to all forms of illicit trade.

Promote a holistic, interconnected approach to the sprawling governmental missions and operations to achieve more effective government controls on illicit trade and leverage business’ own efforts to stop illicit trade.​​

Drive action with global governance bodies that influence the work programs of IGOs and key UN agencies. G7, G20, OECD, APEC and ASEAN leaders play key roles in setting priorities and funding for key IGOs and setting standards for national government performance. TRACIT presses for a more effective cross-sectoral coordination among intergovernmental organizations, and promotes systemic approaches, interconnected strategies and shared resources.​

​This work will be conducted through meetings, roundtables and summits; research reports; information and mitigation tactics sharing; developing and advocating policy recommendations; and building partnerships with key NGOs, IGOs, business and sectoral trade associations and other entities. ​

Our two track approach

Cross-cutting work that focuses on pressing for a more holistic approach by intergovernmental agencies, improving guidance to national governments, and reducing vulnerabilities of supply chains exploited by all forms of illicit trade.

Sector specific work that deals with the enablers and challenges faced in sectors at risk of illicit trade.

Pressing for a more holistic, systemic approach

TRACIT is pressing for more effective cross-sectoral coordination in the intergovernmental organization (IGO) community by promoting systemic approaches, interconnected strategies and shared resources against illicit trade. A holistic approach is warranted, not just because of the varieties of illicit trade but, even more importantly, because of its interlinkages with major global risks such as corruption (both a driver and consequence of illicit trade), terrorism (which is partly fueled by profits from illicit trade), fragile states (massive illicit trade often being their cause and nearly always an important consequence) or economic disparities (which contribute to and are exacerbated by illicit trade).

A systemic approach to addressing the problem requires the engagement of all concerned parties, namely the private sector, governments and civil society, all of which have a stake in the elimination of this phenomenon that harms business, society and state sovereignty. All also have key roles to play in developing and enforcing regulatory frameworks, monitoring supply chains and eliminating illicit trade components, and raising social awareness.​

Improving guidance to national governments

TRACIT contributes industry expertise, know-how and best practices to strengthen national government enforcement mechanisms and close local governance gaps that facilitate illicit trade. Many of the recommendations adopted by IGOs and conveyed to national governments are similar in nature and include common recommendations in terms of links between illicit trade, organized crime and corruption, the need for strengthened “know your customers” procedures, the establishment of national inter-ministerial task forces/ cross-cutting departments and the use of intelligence-driven/proactive investigations. ​

Reducing supply chain vulnerabilities

TRACIT works toward better control of supply chains and improved exchange information and mitigation tactics in and across key industry sectors exploited by illicit trading. This includes promoting the prevention and protection of the supply chain through the adoption of increased and better due diligence and ‘know your customer’ (KYC) procedures; promoting stronger legislation and regulation; addressing offline and online supply chain weaknesses; improving controls in free trade zones; and raising public awareness.

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Featured project

﻿​TRACIT has joined forces with The Economist Group to produce the Global Illicit Trade Environment Index. The Index will evaluate and rank 84 countries on the extent to which they enable or prevent illicit trade and highlight specific areas where countries are weak or strong. More...

Criminal networks are not only expanding their operations, but they are also diversifying their activities, resulting in a convergence of transnational threats that has evolved to become more complex, volatile, and destabilizing.President Barack Obama, U.S. Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime

The businesses and individuals involved [in illicit ivory trade] are motivated solely by short-term gain at the expense of long-term benefit to communities and habitats. In many instances, they act in collusion with transnational organized crime networks and groups actively involved in destabilizing nations.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon​